TEXT: Job 1:8 -12
'And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD."
WHO EXAMINES MAN?
We are examined by God, Satan, other humans and self. In our text for today, Job was examined thoroughly by all these personalities.
DIVINE EXAMINATION
God asked Satan in Job 1:8: 'Have you considered my servant Job?" Before God made that statement, He must have examined the life of Job Himself. God looked at his life and heart and found out that Job was a perfect specimen of the human race. In Psalms 26:2, David said: "Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart." God examines our heart, actions and thoughts (Ps 7:9, 1 Thess 2:4).
Abraham was tested by God. He passed the examination in flying colours. God will grant you grace to pass every divine examination in Jesus name.
SATANIC EXAMINATION.
Satan is the chief examiner of believers. He is the accuser (chief persecutor) of the brethren. God gave Satan leave to examine Job according to Job 1:12: "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord." Satan left happily and made Job's life on earth like hell. It was a sore test that tried Job to the extreme. Job passed the test and gave God pleasure.
Satan also tempted Jesus, but failed. David was examined by Satan also. David failed but he cried unto God for mercy and God restored the joy of his salvation. Concerning your life, Satan will fail in Jesus name. God will make a way of escape for you when Satan comes to tempt you in Jesus name. Are you passing through sore trials?The grace of God will see you through in Jesus name. Whenever you stumble and fall, the mercy of God will lift you up, the blood of Jesus will cleanse you and grace will restore you in Jesus name.
HUMAN EXAMINATION:
Fellow human beings, as vulnerable as you, will examine and criticize you. Job's wife examined him and declared, "curse God and die." His friends that came to comfort him, examined him criticically and found him guilty. Paul was examined constantly by men and he responded by saying in
1 Cor 9:3: "Mine answer to them that do examine me is this..." People will examine you and give their verdict without the benefit of the complete evidence or facts. Jesus was a favourite subject of examination by the religious leaders of his time. Your spouse, family, friends and enemies will examine your life. Daniel and the three Hebrew youths passed through horrendous examinations but they came out victorious with the help of God. The mighty and victorious hand of God will help you overcome the tests of men in Jesus name.
SELF EXAMINATION:
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Cor 13:5). Believers are called to a life of self examination. If we thoroughly examine ourselves and daily ask for God's mercy and grace, we will pass all other examinations. Paul admonished Timothy in 1 Tim 4:12: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." And so we must admonish ourselves daily as we live.
PRAYER:
Father, have mercy on me. Examine my heart and purge me if there be any evil in my heart in Jesus name.
DECREE:
The blood of Jesus purifies me from all sin.
God bless you. Shalom.
